Venetian blind



Fuel,

April 27, 1943. c. WILLIAMS 2,317,660

VENETIAN BLIND 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1942 1 Y 41; ark/4m V 2Sheet-Sheef; 2 v

Ari/11m April 27, 1943.

L. c. WILLIAMS VENETIAN BLIND Filed Aug. 20, 1942 'llllllllillllll'Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VENETIAN BLIND Lisle C. Williams, Memphis, Tenn.

Application August 20, 1942, Serial No. 455,403

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in slatted blinds of theso-called Venetian type in which the slats are supported by laddertapes, as of heavy cloth or webbing, and particularly relates to meansfor detachably securing the slats to the cross tapes of the ladders.

The present invention makes use of the usual oscillatably supportedupper, and complementary lower, rails and the usual ladder tapesextending therebetween. v

The objects of the present invention are:

To provide simple and eflicient means for detachably securing the slatsto the cross tapes of the ladders;

To provide securing means which will prevent the slats being displacedin the direction of their length in the ladder tapes while providingfreedom against binding engagement with the cross tapes during shift ofthe ladder tapes to effect rotational movement of the slats.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished andth method of their accomplishment will readily be understood from thefollowing specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation-showing upper and lower portionsof a blind having slats supported by ladder tapes, a portion of theviewbeing cut away in section, as on the line I-I of Fig. 2, to disclosethe attaching feature of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding sectional plan taken as on the line II-II ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, taken as on the line III-III of Fig. 1,showing the invention as applied to a flat wooden slat. g

Figs. 4 and 5 are similarly taken views showing attachment of slats ofarcuate cross sectionto the tapes, Fig. 5 illustrating the usual mannerin which such slats are turned, and Fig. 4 an oppositely turned orinverted slat positioning.

Fig. 6 is a much enlarged perspective view of one form of attachingclip; and

Fig. '11s a sectional elevation of the clip taken as on the line VII-VIIof Fig. 6, showing a fragshown closed over a cross tape.

Fig. 13 shows a corresponding view with the clips open to permit placingon or release from a cross tape.

mentary portion of the slat to which the clip is Fig. 14 is a sideelevation similar to Fig. 12, showing a further modified form of theclipattached to a slat and closed over a cross-tape.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicatedby numerals:

2| is one side frame of a window casing, 23 an opposite side frame, and25 the window sill. The blind comprises a top rail 21, a bottom rail 29,slats 3|, and ladder tapes supporting these slats in uniformly spacedrelation, the spacing as usual being less than the slat widths so thatthe slats may be oscillatably shifted to overlapping relation and formsubstantially complete closure.

The ladder tapes include the usual side tapes 33, 33-A, 35,35--A, inpairs with cross tapes 39, 4| for the support of the slats, the sidetapes extending over and under the top and bottom rails respectively andbeing secured thereto, and the cross tapes 39, 4| being in usual steppedrelation with respect to the side tapes. The top and bottom railspreferably have projecting pins 43, 45 respectively, which engage withbrackets, as the brackets 41 and 49, if, as indicated in the left halfof Fig. 1, the rails come between the side frames, or with a slightlydifferent form of brackets 5|, 53 if, as indicated in the right'half ofFig. l, the rails are forward of the side frame 23.

The present invention, relates particularly to the means by which theslats 3| are secured to the cross tapes 39 and 4|. Preferably each slathas two securing clips 55, 51, these clips being identical, and similarin detail preferably to one of the alternate shown in Figs. 3 to 13inclusive.

The clips 55 at one end of the slats are closer to the end of the slatthan are the clips 51 to the opposite end of the same slat, thedifference in spacings from the end of the slat being equivalent to theamount the cross tapes are stepped, and the slats being alternatelyturned end forend as are the slats 3|, 3|-A, of Fig. 1, so that the clip55 of the slat. 3|, engaging with the cross tape 39, will line the endof that slat up with the ends of the slat 3 l-A with the cross tape 4|engaging with the clip 51.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the clips, as the clips 55-0 and 55D, maybesecured along the respective longitudinal axes of the slats 3|-.C,3|D, and the clip 55E along a side edge of the slat 3l-E. It will beunderstood, however, that the clip might as readily have been securedalong the center line of the slat 3I-E, or any of the others secured asis the clip 55--E along a side edge.

The clips each comprise a resilient part 59 of deep, substantiallyU-shape, and a handle part 61 which is solidly secured to one leg 59-A fthe U part, as by lugs 63, here shown as integral with the leg 59-A ofthe U and engaging with the handle part to effect the securing, butwhich may as readily be integral with the handle part and engaging withthe U part.

The U part 59 is made as of thin spring metal, plastic, or othersuitable elastic material and is biased to close the outer ends of itslegs together. The handle part 6| extends beyond the bight of the U partto form'a depresser grip and at the ends of the U legs is upwardly bentto form a closure end Gl-A, which may be substantially similar to thebight end of the U.

It will be understood that it is immaterial whether the clip be madefrom a single piece of material or a number of pieces, and in Figs. 10

to 13 the U part 59-1! and handle part 6l.X of

the clip are shown as integral. The clips may be attached to the slatsin any desired manner.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 the clip is shown, as provided, with prongs 59B bymeans of which this attachment may be secured, whether to the flat slat3IC or arcuate slats 3|D or 3l-E.

In Figs. 10 and 11 the clips are shown provided with holes 59C throughwhich rivets 61 (Figs. 12 and 13) may be used as the attaching means.Where rivets are used it is preferable that the handle part 6l-X of thehandle adjacent leg of the U 59-X, have larger apertures 69 throughwhich the rivets may be inserted.

The depth of the end closure 6IA, or Bl-B, is such that when the clip issecuredto the slat the two legs of the U will be held in substantialparallelism, that is, in the position shown in Figs.

6 and 12, and an enclosure be formed for the cross tape 39 or 4 I, asthe case may be, which will permit free movement of the slats withreference to the length. of the cross tape and, therefore, preventbinding in any position of closure adjustment'of the blind. The lengthof the clip between its U end and the handle closure end 6 I- -A orGl-B, as the case may be, is such, as most clearly shown in Fig. 12, asto provide a clearance "between these end portions and the side edges ofthe cross tape which, will prevent yetx' will accomplish substantiallyaccurate alinement of the ends of the slats relatively to each other.

To remove or replace the slat the grip 6IC of the handle (Fig. 13) ispressed toward the slat, thus springing, the end 6|B (or 6|A, as thecase may be) of the clip open and permitting the cross tape to be movedinto the clip, or outward therefrom. I v

In Fig. 14 the clip is shown as a single piece U,

59-Y, having one leg H attached as to the thin slat iii-E, as by rivetsSl -A, the leg having an outwardly bent end portion Ii-A, which exordetached, yet is not easily accidentally disengaged and which does noteffect gripping engagement with the tape, nor is it readily distortableto effect such gripping, so that at all times the slat may be free foradjustment as the blind is being opened or closed.

I claim:

1. In a Venetian blind, having a ladder tape including a, cross-tape anda slat adapted to rest on said cross-tape, means for detachably securingsaid slat to said cross-tape, including a part disposed in substantialparallelism with said slat and spaced therefrom to form an elongatedslot adapted to loosely receive said cross tape, said part having oneend inwardly bent into abutting relation to said slat to form a closurefor one end of said slot and establishsaid spacing; means resilientlysecuring the opposite end of said part tends into contact with the otherleg72. The

leg 12 extends beyond the outwardly turned end portion 1 |-A to form agrip 12-11 by which the leg" may be raised to remove the clip from orreplace it on the ,cross-tape 39. The clip is resilient and is biased toclose the leg 72 against the leg end portion-ll-A.

It will be understood that the primary idea involved in the presentinvention is to provide a tape attaching means which is readily'attachedto said slat, said means including a portion spaced slightly in excessof said cross-tape width from the first said end, forming a closure forsaid opposite slot end, and means secured to said part and continuingbeyond said secured end, forming a grip manually depressible forseparating said abutting end from said slat to permit removal orinsertion of said cross-tape.

2'. In a, Venetian blind, having a ladder tape including a cross-tapeand a slat adapted to rest on said cross-tape, means for detachablysecuring said slat to said cross-tape, including a part disposed insubstantial parallelism with said slat and spaced therefrom to form anelongated slot adapted to loosely receive said cross-tape, said parthaving one end inwardly bent into abutting relation to said slat to forma closure for one end of said slot and establish said spacing, means,including a resilient portion, spaced slightly in excess of saidcross-tape width from said end closure, forming a closure for theopposite end of said slot, securing said opposite end of said part tosaid slat, and means secured to said part and continuing beyond saidsecured end, forming a grip manually depressible for separating saidabutting end from said slat to permit removal or insertion of saidcross-tape.

3. In a Venetian blind, having a ladder tape ,means being biased to urgethe first said end into T-abutting relation, and means secured to saidpart forming a grip manually operable for separating said abutting endfrom said slat to permit removal or insertion of said cross-tape.

4. In a Venetian blind, having a' ladder tape including a cross tape anda slat adapted to rest on said cross-tape; means for detachably securingsaid slat, to said cross-tape comprising a clip rigidly attached to saidslat, said clip' including a U-shaped part of resilient material, havinglegs spaced to loosely receive a said cross-tape flatwise therebetween,and of length substantially equal to said cross-tape width, a handlepart, rigidly secured to said U part and having an in wardly bentportion forming a closure for the open end of said U, said handle partextending detachably securoppositely beyond the bight of said U to forma depresser grip, said U part being biased to hold said inwardly benthandle portion in abutting relation with said slat.

5. In a Venetian blind, having a ladder tape including a cross-tape anda slat adapted to rest on said cross-tape, means for detachably securingsaid slat to said cross-tape comprising a clip adapted for rigidattachment to said slat, said clip including a U-shaped part ofresilient material, having legs of length and spacingto loose ly receivea said cross-tape flatwise therebetween, one of said legs being extendedbeyond the other, inwardly bent to form a closure for the open end ofsaid U, and reversely folded along itself to form a handle partextending oppositely beyond the bight of said U to form a depressergrip, said U part being biased to hold said inwardly bent leg portion inabutting relation with said slat.

6. In a Venetian blind, having a ladder tape including a cross-tape anda slat adapted to rest on said cross-tape, means for detachably securingsaid slat to said cross-tape comprising a clip adapted for rigidattachment to said slat, said clip including a U-shaped part ofresilient material, having legs of length and spacing to loosely receivea said cross-tape fiatwise therebetween, a first of said legs being bentto form a closure for the open end of said U, and the other of said legsextending beyond said first end, said U being biased to effect-closurecontact of said ends.

7. In a Venetian blind, having a ladder tape including a cross-tape anda slat adapted to rest on said cross-tape, means for detachabiy securingsaid slat to saidicross-tape comprising a clip adapted for rigidattachment to said slat, said clip including a. U-shaped part ofresilient material, having legs of length and spacing to loosely receivea said cross-tape flatwise therebetween, a first of said legs being bentto form a closure for the open end of said U, and the other of said legsextending. at least to substantial contact with said first end.

8. In a Venetian blind, having a ladder tape including a cross-tape anda slat adapted to rest on said cross-tape, a substantially U-shaped clipsecured to said slat, said clip having legs spaced to receive flatwisetherebetween a said ladder cross-tape and of length to house said tape,one said leg being abruptly bent at its outer end toward the otherthereof to provide a closure for the outer end of said U, said closureend being of depth ubstantially equal to that of the opposite end ofsaid U.

LISLE C. WILLIAMS.

